Toxins News and Research

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Vanderbilt researchers unravel how bacterial toxin prevents DNA replication

One of the most potent toxins known acts by welding the two strands of the famous double helix together in a unique fashion which foils the standard repair mechanisms cells use to protect their DNA.

2 Aug 2017

Ultra-sensitive C. difficile toxin assay may be critical tool for improving diagnosis of infectious disease

Findings presented at the American Society for Microbiology's ASM Microbe conference show that the ultra-sensitive Clostridium difficile toxin A/B assay in development for use on the Sgx Clarity™ system offers excellent sensitivity and may be a critical tool for improving the diagnosis of this life-threatening infection.

29 Jul 2017

New carbon nanotube-reinforced filters remove heavy metal toxins from water

A newly developed filter, which removes more than 99 percent of heavy metal toxins from water, shows potential for water remediation in developing nations around the world.

27 Jul 2017

Wayne State researchers receive $1.9 million NIH grant to better understand rare genetic disorders

A team of Wayne State University researchers recently received a $1.9 million grant from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health to better understand leukodystrophies (LD) and genetic Leukoencephalopathies (gLE), rare genetic disorders affecting the white matter -- myelin -- in the central nervous system.

21 Jul 2017

Testing treatments using pig model may help minimize drug failure rates for chronic conditions

Scientists may be able to minimize the failure rate of drugs for diseases linked to high-calorie diets, such as colon cancer and type 2 diabetes, if they test treatments using a pig model, according to an international team of researchers.

21 Jul 2017

Research shows how dietary essential fatty acids can help treat Alzheimer’s, other diseases

Understanding how dietary essential fatty acids work may lead to effective treatments for diseases and conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, age-related macular degeneration, Parkinson's disease and other retinal and neurodegenerative diseases.

18 Jul 2017

TUM researchers decipher binding mechanism of antibody to environmental toxin

Summertime is barbecue time. However, when fat reacts with glowing coal, a substance chemists call benzopyrene is created. It is a widespread environmental toxin that can cause cancer in humans.

13 Jul 2017

Preserved placenta is associated with risk of infection

A recent case study published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted that capsules of dehydrated placenta prepared for human consumption can be a source of infectious agents.

30 Jun 2017

Singapore researchers discover new mechanism in the liver's response to blocked bile ducts

A multi-disciplinary team of researchers from the Mechanobiology Institute, Singapore at the National University of Singapore, the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology of A*STAR, and BioSyM, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology have described the mechanical principles adopted by liver cells as they remove excess bile during obstructive cholestasis.

30 Jun 2017

NUS scientists create probiotic gut-friendly beer with health benefits

Beer lovers may soon have a gut-friendly drink to raise a toast to, thanks to the creation of a novel probiotic sour beer by a team of researchers from the National University of Singapore.

28 Jun 2017

Researchers uncover three-dimensional structure of tetanus toxin protein

"Our discovery could be used to design new medicines", says Pål Stenmark, Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University.

27 Jun 2017

Fungal toxins from wallpaper source of illness says new research

According to a new study, there are several toxins from fungi that could be released into the air indoors and the source could be fungi living in the wall papers. These may lead to serious health problems say researchers.

25 Jun 2017

Fungal toxins become easily aerosolized, leading to potential indoor health risk

Toxins produced by three different species of fungus growing indoors on wallpaper may become aerosolized, and easily inhaled.

23 Jun 2017

Extra virgin olive oil protects memory and helps prevent Alzheimer’s

In a landmark judgment, the Court of Justice of the European Union, yesterday ruled that courts could consider vaccines to be the reason for an illness despite the absence of any concrete evidence to support the connection.

21 Jun 2017

Temple researchers identify protective effects of extra-virgin olive oil against Alzheimer's disease

The Mediterranean diet, rich in plant-based foods, is associated with a variety of health benefits, including a lower incidence of dementia.

21 Jun 2017

Steaming freshwater fish reduces presence of cyanotoxins, study shows

A group of researchers from the Area of Toxicology in the Department of Nutrition and Bromatology. Toxicology and Legal Medicine at the University of Seville has published a globally pioneering study that shows that steaming freshwater fish for more than two minutes reduces the presence of cylindrospermopsin, a cyanotoxin, by up to 26%. However, if boiled, the reduction is smaller, 18%, with the corresponding increase in risk for the consumer.

20 Jun 2017

Restoring healthy balance in gut bacteria may reduce ASD symptoms

Experts have called for large-scale studies into altering the make-up of bacteria in the gut, after a review showed that this might reduce the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

19 Jun 2017

IsoNTech to showcase latest advances in safer, alternative nicotine products

The First International Symposium on Nicotine Technology takes place today in Warsaw, Poland. The symposium looks at new and emerging technologies in the area of nicotine delivery and will be showcasing the latest advances in alternative nicotine delivery systems, next generation devices, and the science behind them.

19 Jun 2017

Research suggests how malformed proteins linked to Parkinson’s could spread from the gut to the brain

Recent research on Parkinson's disease has focused on the gut-brain connection, examining patients' gut bacteria, and even how severing the vagus nerve connecting the stomach and brain might protect some people from the debilitating disease.

15 Jun 2017

Researchers use quantum dots to decipher design features for new therapies aimed at MS

Researchers in the University of Maryland Fischell Department of Bioengineering (BIOE) Jewell Laboratory are using quantum dots - tiny semiconductor particles commonly used in nanotechnology - to decipher the features needed to design specific and effective therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases.

14 Jun 2017